By sea, by land and by ice: Royal Marines in Norway

Royal Marines from 45 Commando have deployed to Norway as part of the annual Winter Deployment. Dubbed Exercise Cetus, training for the Royal Marines starts with the Cold Weather Warfare Course which teaches the Marines the skills needed to operate in an Artic environment.

The artic exercise has three phases — survival, mobility and warfare, culminating in a final exercise which puts the newly taught skills into practice.

• In Pictures: Exercise Clockwork — the UK Armed Forces’ air exercise in the Arctic.

The marines then go on to specific training depending on their trade, from ice climbing in the mountains, to infantry tactics in the snow.

Winter Deployment 20 will conclude with Ex Cold Response, a large, multi-national exercise in Norway.

📸 Our Royal Navy photographers have sent us their favourite images from this year’s deployment:

A Royal Marine on Exercise Cetus in Norway

Royal Marines prepare to commence the ‘fight’ phase of Arctic warfare training.

A Royal marine from Zulu Coy prepares to attack an enemy position.

Assault Engineers prepare charges for ice demolition training.

45 Commando Assault Engineering Troop during ice demolition training

45 Commando prepare it’s Bv 206 Armoured All Terrain vehicles

Royal marines Armoured Support Group conduct snow and ice training.

Ice breaking drills are essential to ensure the marines can survive if the ice below them breaks while on patrol.

A Royal Marine takes the plunge in Norway

Read more about the UK Armed Forces’ presence in the Arctic here: 👇

In Pictures: Running like Clockwork

🌎 Find out where else the UK Armed Forces are deployed around the world here: